DSS official linked to organized crime

A DSS official reportedly linked to organized crime was up until recently head of the party’s municipal board in Paracin. Bratislav Milojevic was listed in the Interior Ministry (MUP) so-called White Book on organized crime, a catalogue compiled in 2003 following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, containing the names of all people in Serbia in one way or another connected with organized crime. DSS official linked to organized crime Milojevic was tagged as a leader of an organized crime group, involved in, among other things, blackmail, loan sharking, car hijacking, theft, and extortion. Nevertheless, several years later, Milojevic began to build a political career in Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's party. He was recently appointed DSS representative in the Paracin Municipal Assembly, and acting head of the municipal board. He said in his defense that “it must have been a mistake that my name appeared in the White Book,” adding that not one criminal complaint had ever been lodged against him. Milojevic also said that he had once been found guilty of tax evasion. He has also appeared side by side with Kostunica and Infrastructure Minister Velimir Ilic every time they have visited Paracin. However, a number of party members in Paracin have decided to leave the DSS in the light of Milojevic’s recent appointment to acting head of their board. On Tuesday, DSS spokesman Branislav Ristivojevic confirmed that Milojevic’s name did indeed appear in MUP’s records. “I phoned the interior minister, he checked, and it turned out to be true. Milojevic is listed in MUP’s White Book. The DSS will immediately see to it that he is removed from office,” he stressed. “The main problem is that the White Book has not been published anywhere. It is only available in the Interior Ministry,” Ristivojevic said. B92 has learned that, as a result, Milojevic was suspended from the DSS late on Tuesday.

DSS official linked to organized crime

Milojević was tagged as a leader of an organized crime group, involved in, among other things, blackmail, loan sharking, car hijacking, theft, and extortion.

Nevertheless, several years later, Milojević began to build a political career in Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica's party. He was recently appointed DSS representative in the Paraćin Municipal Assembly, and acting head of the municipal board.

He said in his defense that “it must have been a mistake that my name appeared in the White Book,” adding that not one criminal complaint had ever been lodged against him. Milojević also said that he had once been found guilty of tax evasion.

He has also appeared side by side with Koštunica and Infrastructure Minister Velimir Ilić every time they have visited Paraćin.

However, a number of party members in Paraćin have decided to leave the DSS in the light of Milojević’s recent appointment to acting head of their board.

On Tuesday, DSS spokesman Branislav Ristivojević confirmed that Milojević’s name did indeed appear in MUP’s records.

“I phoned the interior minister, he checked, and it turned out to be true. Milojević is listed in MUP’s White Book. The DSS will immediately see to it that he is removed from office,” he stressed.

“The main problem is that the White Book has not been published anywhere. It is only available in the Interior Ministry,” Ristivojević said.

B92 has learned that, as a result, Milojević was suspended from the DSS late on Tuesday.